Need cheering up
Discussion
My S is currently in for a new ACT SS manifold and downpipes, which I've been putting off for ages due to funds.
I've just been told some of the studs broke and that one gasket is definitely broken and the other probably.
This puts the cost of new manifold + downpipes + 2 new heads + labour + VAT at almost £1800
I was expecting £1K, but this is rather a shock. To be honest, I'm not sure its worth it! I don't see any option but to get the work done (the wonders of Credit Cards), but this could be the beginning of the end for TVR ownership.
Please cheer me up...
I've just been told some of the studs broke and that one gasket is definitely broken and the other probably.
This puts the cost of new manifold + downpipes + 2 new heads + labour + VAT at almost £1800
I was expecting £1K, but this is rather a shock. To be honest, I'm not sure its worth it! I don't see any option but to get the work done (the wonders of Credit Cards), but this could be the beginning of the end for TVR ownership.
Please cheer me up...
Harry1972M said:
New Heads ???? Mine did the same a couple of years back and OK I had to take the heads off but once they are off then the bolts can be extracted / machined out.
Agreed - a good engineering shop should be able to get the studs out and then you just replace the same heads. If they feel like it... Thanks all...
I'm using a well known independent who have always looked after my car well, so I have no cause to doubt them.
I am not particularly clued up with engine internals, so I don't really understand fully what I'm relaying, other than my car is broken without it being fixed! Apparently, they managed to drill out some of the bolts, enough to get one side off - to discover the head had bad heat damage. The other side has two broken bolts they are having problems machining out, but they say if one side needs replacing, the other should be replaced too.
I hope that makes sense. As I say, this isn't my field.
Unless this is a ridiculous price (factor in labour costs as £55 p/a + VAT) I might as well let them go ahead.
It then needs to be sent for its MOT...
I'm using a well known independent who have always looked after my car well, so I have no cause to doubt them.
I am not particularly clued up with engine internals, so I don't really understand fully what I'm relaying, other than my car is broken without it being fixed! Apparently, they managed to drill out some of the bolts, enough to get one side off - to discover the head had bad heat damage. The other side has two broken bolts they are having problems machining out, but they say if one side needs replacing, the other should be replaced too.
I hope that makes sense. As I say, this isn't my field.
Unless this is a ridiculous price (factor in labour costs as £55 p/a + VAT) I might as well let them go ahead.
It then needs to be sent for its MOT...
page3 said:
Apparently, they managed to drill out some of the bolts, enough to get one side off - to discover the head had bad heat damage.
What is "bad heat damage"? Is it warped? Is it cracked? (was there any loss of performance before you took it in?) If not then everthing else is survivable.page3 said:
The other side has two broken bolts they are having problems machining out,
Hmmm... not exactly confidence-inspiring. page3 said:
but they say if one side needs replacing, the other should be replaced too.
New one on me. Can't see why you can't replace the head on one side (if you REALLY have to) and re-seal the valves on the other side.Edited by tvrgit on Wednesday 3rd October 17:38
It depends what and how how bad the damage is. The heads might be able to be skimmed and the valves reseated. The heat damage might also explain why the studs are immoveable.
If you really must have new heads, I can see some logic in doing both at the same time but as TVRGit said, it's not strictly necessary. You could try somewhere like http://www.bellhillgarage.com/ or http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk/ for replacement heads.
If your heads have been warped, you should notice a big improvement in performance when you get it back. That'll cheer you up
If you really must have new heads, I can see some logic in doing both at the same time but as TVRGit said, it's not strictly necessary. You could try somewhere like http://www.bellhillgarage.com/ or http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk/ for replacement heads.
If your heads have been warped, you should notice a big improvement in performance when you get it back. That'll cheer you up
Edited by profstoff on Thursday 4th October 07:43
Thanks all. Consider me cheered.
I've told them to go ahead, as it seems other options wouldn't save much unless I do it myself - which I haven't got the time, space, tools or skills to do!
I'm sure it will all be worth it while once I get to drive it again. (oh, those lovely crisp Winter evenings
) It seems S ownership involves a large bill every couple of years...afterall, they are 15+ years old cars.
Lets just hope the MOT doesn't through up anything unexpected. It better not seeing as I had a big service done at another well known Independent back in March.
Interestingly enough, I resigned as RO yesterday - so perhaps the car knew. I have something small, noisy, smelly and far more expensive coming along soon!!!
I've told them to go ahead, as it seems other options wouldn't save much unless I do it myself - which I haven't got the time, space, tools or skills to do!
I'm sure it will all be worth it while once I get to drive it again. (oh, those lovely crisp Winter evenings
) It seems S ownership involves a large bill every couple of years...afterall, they are 15+ years old cars.Lets just hope the MOT doesn't through up anything unexpected. It better not seeing as I had a big service done at another well known Independent back in March.
Interestingly enough, I resigned as RO yesterday - so perhaps the car knew. I have something small, noisy, smelly and far more expensive coming along soon!!!
You know it'll be worth it, you just know it! I'm picking my Cerbie up later that's been away since April (caught fire), about 7k of insurance bill, 1400 for service, MOT, tyres and excess and even then the full cost is 2k more as they have written that off and put it down to experience (extra investigative time). It's been a long time, but I'm excited now and you'll get the same feeling.
I'm no mechanic, but a friend is re-building a Tiger and told me the studs can have sleeves put it which can save money and work as good as the studs.
I'm no mechanic, but a friend is re-building a Tiger and told me the studs can have sleeves put it which can save money and work as good as the studs.
I'm sorry I think they are taking the piss, if they are struggling to remove the sheared bolts then they are obviously in the wrong business and to break as many as they have is plain ham fisted, I take note that you consider taking this kind of job on as beyond your limitations but there are a lot of us out there that would have offered help if local. I think now that maybe you should have a look around for an engine to replace yours it will certainly be cheaper to do.
Rockey said:
I'm sorry I think they are taking the piss, if they are struggling to remove the sheared bolts then they are obviously in the wrong business and to break as many as they have is plain ham fisted, I take note that you consider taking this kind of job on as beyond your limitations but there are a lot of us out there that would have offered help if local. I think now that maybe you should have a look around for an engine to replace yours it will certainly be cheaper to do.
Rockey has said a bit more plainly, what I was thinking.I did my exhausts at around about this time last year (details of how to do this are on my web site if anybody else is thinking about it). One side had been changed before, the other had obviously been on the car from original (I did later find receipts that confirmed that to be the case). I got all the bolts out without breaking them, just by being careful and taking my time. I did have to cut one of the bleeding manifolds off with a chisel so that I could get to the bolts, mind, but that was easier than risking damaging the heads.
I am however what most TVR specialists would dismiss as a totally unqualified tinkerer. There you go.
Rockey said:
I'm sorry I think they are taking the piss,
Me too, and I'll bet they're not fitting brand new heads.Id be looking for something like this and swapping the heads over,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SIERRA-4X4-2-9-ENGINE_W0QQit...
1 Hours Labour Charge for the engine+ a generous 8 hours to swap them =£450 plus you would still have a spare bottom end.It would probably be cheaper to swap the full engine.
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